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Explore the latest articles by Dr. Sara Szal, where she blends science and holistic wisdom to address the most pressing issues in women’s health, longevity, and personal transformation.
Microplastics as Bioaccumulation Without Borders(Part 1): Emerging Science, Who Is Most at Risk,and Health Consequences
In recent years, microplastics have evolved from an environmental concern to a direct human health issue, with mounting evidence suggesting systemic exposure and biological harm. A recent publication on microplastics sparked concerns when researchers found widespread microplastic contamination across a range of commercially sold beverages in France, including bottled water (even in glass containers), soft…
Perimenopause as Initiation: From “Make Baby” to “Make Wisdom”
If you believe in cultural conditioning, you may think of major hormonal transitions in a woman’s life – perimenopause and menopause – as an inconvenience to get through, burdensome, a problem to solve. You might be in the thick of perimenopause and wonder why you sometimes feel moody, bitchy, overwhelmed, irritable, fatigued, anxious, or one…
Women and Constipation: Why Is It More Common? (Part 1)
Many of my female patients suffer from constipation, but it is rarely the reason a woman visits her doctor. Yet research indicates constipation is approximately twice more common in women than in men. Constipation is like that one friend who takes forever to text back—frustrating, unpredictable, and way more common in women than men. In…
Microdosing Psychedelics: Placebo, Performance Enhancer, or Precision Tool?
Introduction: Why Microdosing Is Worth Your Time The idea of taking a psychedelic every three days might sound like something out of a Silicon Valley self-help blog or a mom meme from Boulder. But beneath the cultural buzz lies a serious scientific and clinical question: Can microdosing psychedelics be a precision intervention for mental health, creativity,…
The Scientific Evidence of Peptide Therapy: MOTS-c
MOTS-c is a 16-amino acid peptide encoded by a mitochondrial gene, playing a role in regulating metabolism and promoting physical performance. It’s considered an “exercise-mimetic” because it can improve glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and enhance insulin sensitivity without requiring insulin. While research suggests potential benefits for metabolic health and physical performance, it’s not yet widely used clinically…
Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone: How These Hormones Shape Your Daily Life
Let’s take a tour beyond the myths and into the molecular reality of what these hormones really do in your daily life. Estrogen: The Multitasking Mastermind Estrogen isn’t just about periods and PMS. It’s a group of hormones—estradiol, estrone, and estriol—that influence nearly every system in your body. Produced primarily in the ovaries (or via…
PCOS and Endometriosis: Decoding the Hormonal Mysteries Behind Common Women’s Health Challenges
Despite affecting millions of women, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis remain among the most underdiagnosed, misunderstood, and mismanaged conditions in modern medicine. These aren’t just “period problems” or fertility issues—they are full-body hormonal syndromes with systemic ripple effects that often begin in adolescence with consequences that extend past menopause. PCOS is the most common…
PCOS: Autonomic Nervous System Dysregulation and Mitochondrial Issues
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often have increased stress, with an exaggerated sympathetic (fight-flight-freeze-fawn) nervous system and underactive parasympathetic (stay-and-play, rest-and-digest, feed-and-breed!) nervous system. We call these findings autonomic imbalances, including reduced parasympathetic activity, which suggests a potential link to mitochondrial dysfunction. Research indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction is indeed associated with PCOS and may contribute…
Mapping the Health Hazards of Being Female
The female body has been left behind by modern medicine. No wonder we are struggling from over-caring, over-giving, and over-functioning. Women are more stressed than ever before. Take a look at the telling statistics. While the root causes in part relate to biological differences in hormone levels, the X chromosome, and physiological states that men…